Lomandra longifolia plant named &#39;Katrinus Deluxe&#39;

ABSTRACT

‘Katrinus Deluxe’ is a distinctive variety of  Lomandra longifolia  which is characterized by the combination of its dense plant growth habit, medium-tall plant height, narrow-medium leaf width, large inflorescence size and presence of male flowers only.

LATIN NAME OF THE GENUS AND SPECIES

The Latin name of the genus and species of the novel variety disclosedherein is Lomandra longifolia.

VARIETY DENOMINATION

The inventive variety of Lomandra disclosed herein has been given thevariety denomination ‘Katrinus Deluxe’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct perennial variety ofLomandra longifolia, which has been given the variety denomination of‘Katrinus Deluxe’. Its market class is that of an ornamental grass-likeplant. ‘Katrinus Deluxe’ is intended for use in landscaping and as adecorative grass-like plant.

The Lomandra longifolia variety ‘Katrinus Deluxe’ was first discoveredin 1999 in an Australian nursery in the state of New South Wales duringa routine inspection of large quantities of Lomandra longifolia‘Katrinus’ (unpatented) production stock. ‘Katrinus Deluxe’ is aseedling selection of open pollinated Lomandra longifolia ‘Katrinus’.‘Katrinus Deluxe’ was selected due to its dense plant growth habit,narrower leaf width, large inflorescence size and presence of maleflowers only. ‘Katrinus Deluxe’ was first propagated asexually bydivision in the state of New South Wales, Australia and has since beenasexually propagated by division and micropropagation. The distinctivecharacteristics of the inventive ‘Katrinus Deluxe’ variety are stablefrom generation to generation; clones of the variety produced by asexualreproduction maintain the distinguishing characteristics of the originalplant.

‘Katrinus Deluxe’ has a dense growth habit with leaves that are finerand more narrow than Lomandra longifolia ‘Katrinus’ (unpatented in theUnited States; Australian Plant Breeders' Rights Application No.1997/168), ‘Cassica’ (unpatented in the United States; Australian PlantBreeders' Rights Application No. 1997/166) and common Lomandralongifolia.

An application for plant breeders' rights for variety ‘Katrinus Deluxe’has been lodged with the Australian Plant Breeders' Rights Office, andwas received in October 2005 under Application No. 2005/316.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

‘Katrinus Deluxe’ is a distinctive variety of Lomandra longifolia whichis characterized by the combination of its dense plant growth habit,medium-tall plant height, narrow-medium leaf width, large inflorescencesize and presence of male flowers only.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 shows a ‘Katrinus Deluxe’ plant.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following is a detailed botanical description of a new and distinctvariety of a Lomandra longifolia ornamental grass-like plant known as‘Katrinus Deluxe’. Plant observations were made on plants grown in NewSouth Wales, Australia. Unless indicated otherwise, the descriptionsdisclosed herein are based upon observations made in September 2005 ofmature ‘Katrinus Deluxe’ plants grown in nursery pots and field plots.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that certain characteristicswill vary with older or, conversely, younger plants. ‘Katrinus Deluxe’has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. Wheredimensions, sizes, colors and other characteristics are given, it is tobe understood that such characteristics are approximations or averagesset forth as accurately as practicable. The phenotype of the variety mayvary with variations in the environment such as season, temperature,light intensity, day length, cultural conditions and the like. Colornotations are based on The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, TheRoyal Horticultural Society, London, 1995 edition. ‘Katrinus Deluxe’ isundergoing further trialing and comparative testing in Australia and theUnited States.

‘Katrinus Deluxe’ is a perennial Lomandra longifolia plant whichoriginated from a seedling selected from a population of open pollinatedplants of Lomandra ongifolia ‘Katrinus’. After its selection, ‘KatrinusDeluxe’ was asexually propagated by division and subsequently bymicropropagation. ‘Katrinus Deluxe’ has a narrow-medium leaf blade widthcombined with a densely shooted plant growth habit, which is unusual forLomandra longifolia plants which usually have a broader leaf blade and alower density of shoots per tussock.

-   Growth habit, dimensions and color: ‘Katrinus Deluxe’ is a    medium-tall, rhizomatous plant forming a dense tussock. Average    plant height is 110 cm and average plant spread is 100 cm in a    mature plant grown in a 300 mm nursery or field pot in Sydney, New    South Wales, Australia. The upper and lower side of the leaf is    yellow green (circa RHS 137C) in color. The leaf blade is generally    5 to 8 mm in width, and 90 cm in length. The leaf base is cauline,    leaf margin is entire, leaf apex is tridentate and leaf surface    glaucosity is weak. The leaf venation pattern is parallel; the color    is the same as the rest of the leaf (yellow-green RHS 137C; observed    spring 2005). The basal shoots are grayed orange (circa RHS 166A-B)    in color (observed spring 2005). The leaf is generally a uniform    width from base to the tip, margins may shred at the base, with a    tridentate apex typical of Lomandra longifolia. A representative    ‘Katrinus Deluxe’ plant is shown in FIG. 1.-   Roots: Similar to other Lomandra longifolia, ‘Katrinus Deluxe’ has a    massive root structure. The roots are fibrous and spreading, similar    to other Lomandra longifolia.-   Rhizomes: Short (3 cm to 4 cm); rhizome color with the leaf sheath    removed is white (RHS 155C); surface texture of the rhizome is    smooth.-   Bud: Bud shape is oval. Bud color is greyed purple (RHS 183C);    observed spring 2005.-   Inflorescence: The inflorescence is a spike (a panicle of clusters),    composed of male flowers. The predominant color of the inflorescence    at anthesis is yellow (RHS 6A; observed spring 2005).-   Floret length: The average length of the floret is 3.3 mm (observed    spring 2005)-   Pedicels: Absent; the florets are sessile.-   Bracts: Average bract length is 30 mm; bract color is grayed orange    (approximately RHS 164D). Observations made in spring 2005.-   Flowers: Color of outer perianth is greyed purple (RHS 183C)    proximally, yellow green (RHS 146A-B) distally along the central    zone, and greyed yellow (RHS 161D) along each perianth segment    margin; color of inner perianth is yellow (RHS 6A) fading toward the    margin to yellow (RHS 13D). Observations made spring 2005.-   Flower rachis: The length of the flower rachis is 150-170 mm    (observed spring 2005).-   Reproductive organs of male florets: Six stamens, anther size is 0.5    mm to 0.8 mm in length, anther color is yellow (approximately RHS    8B), observed spring 2005.-   Seed: Flowers are male; seed is not produced.-   Flowering period: The primary flowering period is in the spring with    secondary flowering occurring in summer to autumn in Sydney, New    South Wales, Australia.-   Lastingness of bloom: Approximately 9 days in summer flowering in    Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.-   Fragrance: Fragrance is typical of the species.-   Comparison of ‘Katrinus Deluxe’ with Other Varieties of Lomandra    longifolia: The leaf blade width of ‘Katrinus Deluxe’ is narrower    than that of ‘Katrinus’, ‘Cassica’ and the common form of Lomandra    longifolia. ‘Katrinus Deluxe’ has a more dense plant growth habit    than ‘Katrinus’. ‘Katrinus Deluxe’ has a similar plant height than    ‘Katrinus’ , is taller than ‘Cassica’ and slightly shorter than the    common form of Lomandra longifolia. The combination of its dense    plant growth habit and narrow leaf makes ‘Katrinus Deluxe’ an    attractive ornamental grass-like plant. ‘Katrinus Deluxe’ has a    significantly larger flower spike than ‘Katrinus’ and the common    form of Lomandra longifolia. ‘Katrinus Deluxe’ only produces male    flowers and does not produce viable seed whilst ‘Katrinus’ and the    parent type of Lomandra longifolia typically produce viable seed in    female plants. The flower spike of ‘Katrinus Deluxe’ is relatively    spiky to touch, similar to ‘Katrinus’ and the parent type of    Lomandra longifolia. The novelty and distinctiveness of ‘Katrinus    Deluxe’ as compared with other varieties of Lomandra longifolia is    still undergoing further testing.-   Asexual reproduction: After its initial discovery, ‘Katrinus Deluxe’    was transplanted into a 140 mm pot for further trials and testing.    After divisions were made for several subsequent generations,    ‘Katrinus Deluxe’ was observed to retain plant growth    characteristics that were noted in the original ‘Katrinus Deluxe’    seedling. ‘Katrinus Deluxe’ was then divided into many larger pots    for further evaluation and introduction to micropropagation.-   Environmental tolerances: ‘Katrinus Deluxe’ has shown potential for    shade tolerance and further shade tolerance tests are underway. The    winter hardiness of ‘Katrinus Deluxe’ is at least to zone 8a in the    Southeastern United States, and evaluation of winter hardiness is    ongoing. ‘Katrinus Deluxe’ has been observed to hold color to −10    degrees Celsius without any noticeable change in appearance of the    plant. ‘Katrinus Deluxe’ has excellent drought tolerance. After    severe wilting, ‘Katrinus Deluxe’ has been noted to recover with    watering. ‘Katrinus Deluxe’ does well in sandy soils, but also    tolerates heavy, clay-type soils well.-   Disease resistance: ‘Katrinus Deluxe’ has good resistance to root    rot compared with most other Lomandra longifolia and evaluation of    disease resistance is ongoing.

1. A new and distinct variety of Lomandra longifolia plant named‘Katrinus Deluxe’, substantially as described and illustrated herein.